WineNews.it, an online source for wine news in Italy, is reporting that in the night, vandals entered the cellars of Case Basse, an acclaimed producer of Brunello di Montalcino, and simply turned on the spigots, emptying the casks onto the floor. Six entire vintages -- 2007 to 2012 -- have been lost.

An early-morning robbery Friday at a stately brick mansion in an upscale Santa Clara County community left a former winery owner dead, his wife injured and police wondering whether it was a random home invasion or a targeted assault.

Buddy Boy, one of Pennsylvania's most unique wineries, just celebrated its first year operating off routes 11/15 in Duncannon, 16 miles north of Harrisburg. Visitors came from all over the area and from as far away as Washington state, to taste Buddy Boy's wine list of largely sweet and fruit wines.

In a record year for Texas grape production, the High Plains once again leads the way and most growers believe they've just begun making an impact. Local grape consultant Bobby Cox said about 5,000 tons of the fruit was harvested from the High Plains, including Terry, Garza, Yoakum, Hudspeth and Lubbock counties.

Conditions included the mild winter, spring frost that didn't damage buds nearly as much as its devastation of Ontario apples. The hot, dry summer that concentrates prized sugars and a fall harvest yielding such high-quality grapes.

The St. Charles County Council has created a new zoning district in the wine region with the hope of ensuring future development there preserves the area's natural beauty and rural atmosphere. The new Agricultural Tourism District puts architectural- and site-design requirements on new buildings that are part of a tourist attraction - for example, a small inn added to a winery.

Just as the farmer/winemakers of Burgundy tend to be far earthier than the tweedy, aristocratic proprietors of the grand châteaux of Bordeaux, the Sonoma-bred Mr. Williams in no way resembles the typical Napa Valley wine baron-a wealthy entrepreneur venturing on his second or third act.

Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd., announced their appointment as national importer for Bodega Luigi Bosca, wines of Mendoza, Argentina, as of January 2013. The addition of this reputed winery to the Wildman group blends with the remainder of its expansive family-driven portfolio.

The new 5,470ft² winery, which will also house a tasting room, is a part of the project that includes construction of 23 buildings on 42,000ft² of space for resort, spa and office. The space will also be used for a pool and parking lot.

The Virginia Creeper leafhopper (VCLH) is related to the familiar western grape leafhopper in behavior, appearance and appetite-but unfortunately, VCL (Erythroneura ziczac Walsh) apparently is not on the menu for the beneficial Anagrus wasps that parasitize the eggs and inhibit the spread of native leafhoppers.

A collection of Krug direct from the house's cellar was 100% sold at Sotheby's New York auction this weekend. The collection made US $782,285, 50 percent above its pre-sale estimate of $522,100, with three lots of Clos du Mesnil making it into the sale's top 10 lots.

Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank announced that Brutocao Family Vineyards is actively promoting the sale of an approximately seven-acre site, known as the Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza, in an effort to create a destination venue to complement the existing tasting room, bocce ball courts, restaurant, chapel and event center.

The top two Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly support allowing the sale of wine in supermarkets, and the influx of new GOP lawmakers is giving them the opportunity to reshape key committees where efforts to make that change have long been blocked by opponents.

Accolade Wines, which used to be the European and Australian portion of giant Constellation Brands, is moving its U.S. headquarters from Healdsburg to Napa, just as its corporate HQ in Australia announced that CEO Troy Christensen has left the company by "mutual agreement."